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How to Buy a Gun in Washington
Buying a firearm in Washington is legal for most eligible adults, but the process must follow both federal law and Washington state regulations. This guide covers everything you need to know.
- legal
- safe
- bill of sale
How to Buy a Gun in Washington — Quick Overview
- Who Can Buy: Adults 21+ not prohibited under Washington or federal law
- Age Requirements: 21+ for ALL firearms in Washington — both handguns and long guns
- Background Check: Required for ALL transfers including private sales — through FFL dealer
- Waiting Period: 10 business days for all firearm purchases
- Private Sales: Must go through a licensed FFL dealer for background check — direct transfers illegal
- Assault Weapons: Semi-automatic assault rifle ban enacted 2023 — may not be purchased or transferred (subject to legal challenges)
- Magazine Limit: 10 rounds maximum
- Bill of Sale: Strongly recommended in addition to required FFL records
Table of Contents
Who Can Legally Buy a Gun in Washington
Age Requirements for Buying a Gun in Washington
Buying a Gun from a Licensed Dealer
Buying a Gun from a Private Seller in Washington
Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Gun in Washington
Why Many Buyers Use GunTransfer
Documents Required to Buy a Gun in Washington
Waiting Periods and Registration in Washington
Interstate Gun Purchases
Washington Gun Laws Every Buyer Should Understand
Responsible Firearm Ownership
FAQ About Buying a Gun in Washington
Washington’s Comprehensive Firearm Laws
Who Can Legally Buy a Gun in Washington
Adults 21+ not prohibited under Washington or federal law.
To legally buy a firearm, a person generally must:
- Be legally allowed to possess firearms under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922)
- Meet the minimum age requirements
- Provide valid government-issued photo ID when purchasing from a licensed dealer
- Not be a prohibited person under federal law
- Be a legal resident of the United States
Federal law prohibits certain individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms. These restrictions apply equally in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Individuals prohibited from purchasing or receiving firearms include:
- Convicted felons (any crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment)
- Persons convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors
- Persons subject to qualifying restraining or protective orders
- Unlawful users of or persons addicted to controlled substances
- Persons adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution
- Illegal aliens and persons who have renounced U.S. citizenship
- Persons dishonorably discharged from the armed forces
- Fugitives from justice
Attempting to purchase a firearm in Washington while prohibited is a serious federal crime — punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
Understanding your eligibility is the essential first step before buying any firearm in Washington.
Age Requirements for Buying a Gun in Washington
21
years old to purchase handguns from a dealer
21
21
21
Who Can Legally Buy a Gun in Washington?
- Be legally allowed to possess firearms under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922)
- Meet the minimum age requirements (21+ for private transfers; 21+ for handguns from dealers)
- Provide valid government-issued photo ID when purchasing from a licensed dealer
- Not be a prohibited person under federal law
- Be a legal resident of the United States
- Convicted felons
- Persons convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors
- Persons subject to qualifying restraining orders
- Unlawful users of controlled substances
- Persons adjudicated mentally defective
- Illegal aliens and persons who have renounced citizenship
- Persons dishonorably discharged from the armed forces
- Fugitives from justice
Buying a Gun from a Licensed Dealer in Washington
Typical process when buying from a dealer:
In most cases the background check is completed quickly. Washington has a waiting period: 10 business days for all firearm purchases.
How to Buy a Gun from a Private Seller in Washington
Washington requires a background check for private firearm transfers. Both parties must go through a licensed FFL dealer to complete the check. Direct person-to-person transfers without a background check are illegal in Washington.
Private firearm purchases are common when:
- Buying a used firearm from another gun owner
- Purchasing from a collector or at a gun show
- Buying from a friend or family member
Both buyers and sellers in a private transaction remain responsible for complying with federal firearm laws. The buyer must be legally eligible to receive the firearm.
Although a bill of sale is not legally required, GunTransfer generates one automatically. The FFL dealer background check record plus the GunTransfer bill of sale gives both parties complete documentation.
WASHINGTON GUN PURCHASE QUICK REFERENCE
| PURCHASE TYPE | BACKGROUND CHECK | WAITING PERIOD | KEY NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Dealer | Required — WSP check | 10 business days | 21+ for all firearms. |
| Private Sale | Required — via FFL | 10 business days | ALL private transfers require FFL dealer WSP check. |
| Online Purchase | Required at receiving FFL | 10 business days | Ships to Washington FFL. |
| Semi-Auto Assault Rifles | Prohibited | Prohibited | Subject to legal challenges — verify current WA law. |
| Magazine > 10 rounds | Prohibited | Prohibited | Prohibited in Washington. |
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Buy a Gun in Washington
Whether buying from a dealer or a private seller, the typical process for legally purchasing a firearm in Washington includes the following steps.
1
Confirm your eligibility
2
Choose the firearm
3
Go through a licensed FFL dealer
4
Complete required paperwork
5
Wait 10 business days
6
Take possession and document
We handle the legal part for you.
Washington requires a licensed dealer for private transfers. We route you to a local FFL at no markup and handle the bill of sale and permanent records for you. Flat $50.
Why Many Buyers Use GunTransfer
Private firearm purchases are legal in most states, but without documentation there is no proof of exactly when you took ownership — which can matter if the firearm is later reported stolen or connected to an incident that occurred before your purchase.
Establish a clear record of the firearm’s serial number and description
Document the exact date you took legal ownership
Protect yourself if the firearm was previously involved in an incident
Demonstrate responsible, law-abiding firearm ownership
For buyers, a signed GunTransfer bill of sale is proof that you own the firearm as of a specific date — critical if it is ever lost, stolen, or traced. GunTransfer makes this documentation simple for every private purchase in Washington.
Documents Required to Buy a Gun in Washington
When purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer in Washington, buyers must provide:
- A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
- Current residential address
- Completed ATF Form 4473 (the dealer provides this)
Private firearm purchases in Washington must also go through a licensed dealer for the background check. GunTransfer to document the transfer. GunTransfer.com performs a background check on the buyer and generates a complete bill of sale documenting both parties, the firearm details, serial number, sale price, and date — giving both buyer and seller legal protection.
Waiting Periods and Registration in Washington
Washington requires a waiting period of 10 business days for all firearm purchases for firearm purchases. You must wait this period before you can take possession of the firearm after purchase approval.
Washington requires firearm registration. All firearms must be registered as required by Washington law — verify specific registration requirements with local authorities.
In addition to required registration, your own records — including a GunTransfer bill of sale — is always recommended for both buyer and seller.
Interstate Gun Purchases
- Handguns purchased from an out-of-state seller must be transferred through a licensed Washington FFL dealer who will conduct the required background check before releasing the firearm.
- Long guns (rifles and shotguns) may sometimes be purchased out of state if the purchase complies with the laws of both Washington and the seller's state.
- You may never take direct possession of a handgun from a private out-of-state seller — it must be shipped to a Washington FFL dealer first.
Washington Gun Laws Every Buyer Should Understand
Although Washington has specific firearm purchase laws, buyers should still understand several important regulations. Key rules include:
- 21+ minimum age for ALL firearms — both handguns and long guns
- Background checks required for ALL private transfers
- 10 business day waiting period for all purchases
- Semi-automatic assault rifle ban enacted 2023 (subject to legal challenges — verify current law)
- 10-round magazine limit
- Pistol purchases recorded with Washington State Patrol
- Safe storage requirements when children are present
Responsible Firearm Ownership
Buying a firearm comes with important ongoing responsibilities. Responsible gun owners should:
Store firearms securely and away from unauthorized access
Follow all firearm safety rules at all times
Stay informed about Washington and federal firearm laws
Keep records of firearm purchases and transfers
When purchasing firearms privately in Washington, keeping a GunTransfer bill of sale is one of the simplest steps a responsible buyer can take. GunTransfer performs a background check on the buyer and generates a complete, signed record that both parties keep.
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is the minimum age to buy a gun in Washington?
Is there a waiting period in Washington?
Do private gun sales in Washington require a background check?
Does Washington have an assault weapons ban?
Explore All GUN Laws across the country
50 State Guides
How to Buy a Gun by State →How to Sell a Gun by State →Gun Transfer Laws by State →Background Check Laws by State →Private Gun Sale Laws by State →Gun Waiting Period Laws by State →Gun Inheritance Laws by State →Ready to Transfer ?
Washington Firearm Purchase Resources: ATF — Identifying Prohibited Persons | ATF — Brady Law & 3-Day Default Rule | FBI NICS | Giffords — Washington Gun Laws | ATF State Laws & Ordinances
A handshake isn’t a transfer.
Make it legal.
In Washington, the seller carries the federal liability. One undocumented sale to the wrong person is the difference between a clean record and 18 U.S.C. § 922(d). For \$50, you get proof you did it right.
- Real background check on the buyerMulti-source federal, state & county criminal + sex-offender records.
- Official bill of sale, signed by both partiesElectronic. Documented to hold up in court.
- Lifetime digital records in your Gun VaultPull them 5, 10, 20 years from now.
- Routed to a local licensed dealer — no markupWashington requires an FFL; we handle the paperwork and records.
When my father passed I inherited a safe full of guns and had no idea how to sell them legally. This walked me through every one.— Henry P., verified seller
Secure checkout · No FFL markup · No range fees · Flat $50 every time.
